>> I’M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED ME ACHIEVE WHAT I’M ACHIEVING TODAY SO FAR. >> BECAUSE AARON JONES IS A CHANGED MAN. >> AT A YOUNG AGE, MOM DECISION-MAKING WAS NOT ON POINT. AS I GOT OLDER, I TRY PROFESSIONAL BOXING, IT DID NOT WORK OUT. >> JONES, WHO WILL TURN 55 ON FRIDAY, DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE FINISHING THE 12TH GRADE. HE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP IN PRISON AND SERVED 12 YEARS. >> WHEN I CAME HOME, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO, WAS TO GET MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. >> HE WAS HOMELESS AND LIVING AT WAYSIDE CHRISTIAN MISSION. IT WAS THERE THAT HE REALIZED HIS DREAM WASN’T OUT OF REACH. >> HE SHOWED UP IN MY OFFICE ONE DAY. HE HAD HEARD ABOUT OUR PROGRAM, THE GRADUATE ASSISTANT CENTER. >> AT JEFFERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, STUDENTS 21 AND OLDER CAN EARN THEIR DIPLOMA. IT’S A PLACE WHERE SUCCESS STORIES ARE CELEBRATED. [CHEERING] >> WE LINE UP THE HALLWAY AND HAVE A PROCESSION, IT IS MAGICAL. >> THIS IS WHERE GRADUATES GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN AND GET THEIR DIPLOMA. >> IT WAS LIKE MY FIRST CHRISTMAS, THE FIRST TOY I GOT. >> JONES NOW WORKS AT WAYSIDE. HE HOPES TO INSPIRE OTHERS THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. >> I AM AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT HEY, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU GET, YOU CAN GO BACK AND ACHIEVE SOME DREAMS THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD NOT ACHIEVE AS A YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN.

A Louisville man has achieved his dream of getting his high school diploma.Aaron Jones will turn 55 Friday. He told WLKY that he dropped out of high school before finishing the 12th grade. "At a young age, my decision-making wasn't on point," Jones said. "As I got older, I tried professional boxing for a while, but it just didn't work out."Jones said those bad decisions eventually landed him in prison, where he served 12 years. When he was released, he returned to Louisville to start over."When I came home, back to Louisville, one of the things that I wanted to do was get my high school diploma," said Jones.Jones lived at Wayside Christian Mission, a homeless shelter, after getting out of prison. He said that is when he realized he could achieve his dream. He enrolled at Jefferson County High School."Aaron showed up in my office one day," said Tony Despain, a counselor. "He had heard about our program called the Graduate Assistance Center."Despain told WLKY the center helps people who are 21 and older earn their high school diploma. The high school also works with students 16 and older to earn their GED."It's a great service to the community to know that you're going to provide some really life-changing opportunities for people," said Despain.Principal Artie Dietz called Jones an inspiration."Aaron's story is what gets us up and gets us going in the morning," said Dietz. "Aaron's story is just one of many stories of how alternative programs help students."Jones received his diploma in June. Staff members congratulate every student with a procession down a hallway. Their picture is also taken and displayed on a bulletin board."It was like winning a championship fight," said Jones. "It was something that's like my first Christmas, you know, and the first toy I got. Man, I was excited."Jones now works at Wayside Christian Mission and hopes to encourage other men and women who are down on their luck."You can always change your life around, and there's people that will help you," said Jones. "We come from different walks of life, and everybody is raised differently, but we can achieve to be better men and women."To learn more about the services offered at Jefferson County High School, click here.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

A Louisville man has achieved his dream of getting his high school diploma.

Aaron Jones will turn 55 Friday. He told WLKY that he dropped out of high school before finishing the 12th grade.

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"At a young age, my decision-making wasn't on point," Jones said. "As I got older, I tried professional boxing for a while, but it just didn't work out."

Jones said those bad decisions eventually landed him in prison, where he served 12 years. When he was released, he returned to Louisville to start over.

"When I came home, back to Louisville, one of the things that I wanted to do was get my high school diploma," said Jones.

Jones lived at Wayside Christian Mission, a homeless shelter, after getting out of prison. He said that is when he realized he could achieve his dream. He enrolled at Jefferson County High School.

"Aaron showed up in my office one day," said Tony Despain, a counselor. "He had heard about our program called the Graduate Assistance Center."

Despain told WLKY the center helps people who are 21 and older earn their high school diploma. The high school also works with students 16 and older to earn their GED.

"It's a great service to the community to know that you're going to provide some really life-changing opportunities for people," said Despain.

Principal Artie Dietz called Jones an inspiration.

"Aaron's story is what gets us up and gets us going in the morning," said Dietz. "Aaron's story is just one of many stories of how alternative programs help students."

Jones received his diploma in June. Staff members congratulate every student with a procession down a hallway. Their picture is also taken and displayed on a bulletin board.

"It was like winning a championship fight," said Jones. "It was something that's like my first Christmas, you know, and the first toy I got. Man, I was excited."

Jones now works at Wayside Christian Mission and hopes to encourage other men and women who are down on their luck.

"You can always change your life around, and there's people that will help you," said Jones. "We come from different walks of life, and everybody is raised differently, but we can achieve to be better men and women."

To learn more about the services offered at Jefferson County High School, click here.